Based on the life of Eugene Allen, the White House head butler who served eight presidents during a 34-year career, the film stars Forest Whitaker playing a character called Cecil Gaines. Oprah plays his wife, Gloria Gaines.

As shown in the intriguing two-minute, thirty-second trailer, the OWN network mogul, 59, shows off the acting chops that once earned her an Oscar nomination, for 1985's The Color Purple.